7 Things You Must Do This Month

7 Things You Must Do This Month

1/ Chow Down

Don’t miss the sixth annual Top Chef presented by Shock Top on Aug. 17 at Soldiers’ Memorial. Six local chefs will compete in the Ultimate Burger Challenge, packing as much flavor as they can between two buns. Try your hand at corn hole or washers in the Yelp game zone, listen to Tommy Halloran’s Guerrilla Swing and Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers on the main stage, and root for your favorite chef during the grilling showdown. Attendees will enjoy sliders from competing chefs before voting on their favorite burger, with complimentary drink sampling by Shock Top, Jim Beam and Skinnygirl and outdoor access to the Cardinals game. For tickets, visit alivemag.com/events.

2/ Roar

Taking the world by storm with platinum hits from her fourth album, “Prism,” Katy Perry will come to Scottrade Center on Aug. 17 along with special guest and country newcomer, Kacey Musgraves. Expect to see a high-energy performance from Perry, kicking off the set with her latest singles, “Roar” and “Dark Horse.” Jaw-dropping visuals and countless costume changes will keep the crowds begging for more from the pop superstar. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

3/ Tour the Globe

Take a trip around the world without stepping a foot outside Tower Grove Park at the annual International Institute’s Festival of Nations, Aug. 23-24. Celebrate the cultural diversity in St. Louis with traditional dancing and music, authentic ethnic eats, educational exhibits, folk art demonstrations and a sprawling international market. Free admission makes this family-friendly event an annual must-see for summer. For more info, visit festivalofnationsstl.org.

4/ Raise a Fork

Budget-conscious foodies should mark their calendars for the 10th annual Downtown Restaurant Week, Aug. 11-17. More than two-dozen Downtown eateries will offer special three-course menus for $25. Diners will also have the chance to tack on a $5 “extra helping” to the check, which will help Operation Food Search feed one hungry family in the area. For more info, visit downtownrestaurantweek.net.

5/ Get Geared Up

Watch as hundreds of professional cyclists race through St. Louis neighborhoods at ?breakneck speeds during the 22nd Staenberg Group Gateway Cup. Catch four days of competition, Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at the Tour de Lafayette, Tour de Francis Park, Giro della Montagna and Benton Park Classic. Kiddos and casual cyclists can have fun too, thanks to a lineup of amateur events. For more info, visit gatewaycup.com.

6/ Bust a Move

Laclede’s Landing will be rocking come Labor Day weekend when 30 blues bands from across the nation performing the Big Muddy Blues Festival, Aug.30-31. The two-day celebration will feature everything from soul and R&B to gospel and jazz. Bring lawn chairs to park in front of the stages, but don’t be surprised if you end up on your feet dancing in the aisles. For more info, visit bigmuddybluesfestival.com.

7/ Experience the East

Savor the last weekend of summer by celebrating all things Japanese at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Aug. 30- Sept. 1. Get a glimpse of the history, people and culture at the 38th Annual Japanese Festival,which showcases everything from traditional martial arts to customary sake sipping and sumo demonstrations in the stunning and serine, 14-acre Japanese Garden. For more info, visit missouribotanicalgarden.org.